WASHINGTON — Democrats faced tough questioning before the Virginia Supreme Court on Monday during oral arguments on a redistricting referendum that narrowly passed last week, though most of the justices were oddly quiet.
Republicans have challenged the referendum, which paved the way for the Dems to pick up as many as four local congressional seats — potentially leaving them with a 10-to-one margin over GOPers — arguing that the Democrat-led General Assembly flouted procedural rules to get it on the ballot.
A constitutional amendment was needed to put it to voters — and state lawmakers have to approve a resolution in two consecutive legislative sessions, with an election in between, to do so.
Democrats claimed they met that requirement thanks partly to a special session last year that they contend was left open from 2024 and resumed again in the normal session in 2025. Republicans are arguing that such a special session doesn’t count as two sessions.